Food poverty or the synonym food insecurity is a concept related to food security. Food insecurity exists when people don't have adequate physical, social or economic access to food security.[1] In other words food poverty refers to the inability to acquire or eat an adequate quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways (or the uncertainty of being able to do so).[2]
Today enough food is produced to feed the world's population[4] but the challenge is to make sure that everyone can access it. Also, the continuing population and consumption growth means that global demand for food will increase for at least another 40 years,[5] meaning that the challenges of food insecurity will only rise if not a solution is found. In other words the demand for food is rising by the growing population and this demand needs to be adressed in a way that is environmentally and socially sustainable and ensure that the population is no longer hungry.[6]
Food insecurity is mainly a problem in developing countries causing malnutrition and poverty. At the same time food insecurity also exists in developed countries, but it's more about having the means to buy enough healthy foods and getting enough calories. In addition to this the challenge of food insecurity can be seen as symptoms of a system which fails to ensure that individuals and households have adequate income (to buy food), and to ensure what is available to consume at an affordable cost is appropriate for health.[7] So on the one hand food insecurity is caused by a too low income and on the other hand the availability/accessibility of food.
Causes of food insecurity is for example political instability, war and civil strife, macroeconomic imbalances and trade dislocations to environmental degradation, poverty, population growth, gender inequality, inadequate education and poor health.[8] The list of causes is long but all can be related to two basic causes: insufficient national food availability and insufficient access to food by households and individuals.[9] A concrete example of food insecurity is for example north-east Nigeria where in August of 2016 it was reported that food insecurity is pressing issue because of lost planting seasons due to the conflicts in the region.[10]
There are several discussions about how to resolve the problem of food insecurity. Some see it as the states obligation to put in measures to diminish the problem[11] , while others see sustainable agriculture[12] as a solution. The bottom issue is how to have an adequate and appropriate food supply without further damaging the environment.[13]
Critique
There exists some critique on the ways in which food insecurity has been handled. Most initiatives to fight the problem of food insecurity is community based and food charity continues to be the primary response. At the same time the capacity of such initiatives to alter food insecurity among the poorest seem to be limited and without action to address the underlying issue of poverty.[14] Some feel that donations towards these food charities is not getting to the root of the problem, which is unemployment and employment that is underpaid.[15] This suggests that the current ways in which a part of the food insecurity issue is handled is not doing the job. Furthermore the demand for food assistance and food help have increased since the 1980s[16] which also suggests that the current measures to fight food insecurity is not effective enough.
Relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Food poverty/insecurity is directly linked to the UN SDG 2 Zero Hunger. The goal is to end hunger and ensure sufficient food all year round. Also agricultural productivity and sustainable agriculture is key to end hunger.
As stated before, food insecurity especially in developed countries has to do with low income. This means that UN SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth which goal is to ensure employment and inclusive sustainable growth can be related to food insecurity.
Relation to Corporate Praxis
An interesting innovation, which could help to battle food insecurity in areas that are suffering from drought is the Waterboxx. The product is developed by Groasis Technology and it's a plant growing system to be used in man made deserts. The Waterboxx enables the root of the plant to grow horizontally so that it can anchor itself to the ground and then reach down to the water table. After a year the Waterboxx can be removed and a self-sustaining plant is left in place. This innovation means that growers are able to make a profit by growing fruit and vegetable plants in deforested and deserted areas. The founder of the company estimates that there exists over 2 billion hectares of man-made desserts and if planting each hectare with fruit and vegetable trees it could generate 5 tons of food. This in turn could help diminish the food insecurity problem especially in places affected by deforestation and drought.[17]
Examples from Finland
Finland is a country where food insecurity currently isn’t a pressing issue. We have a social welfare system and developed agriculture, which to a large extent prevents food insecurity to be a problem. At the same time this haven’t always been the case and for example during the civil after 1917 and during the winter war and continuation war in the 1940s there was a lot of people suffering from food insecurity. A good example here of a tool to battle food insecurity was that Finland introduced free school meals to every child, which probably greatly diminished the problem.
Today the contribution Finland makes to the issue of food insecurity is mainly helping out developing countries. For example the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland has a development policy program. One of the goals of this development policy is the eradication of poverty and inequality and the promotion of sustainable development.[18] According to the programme food security, access to water and energy and sustainable use of natural resources is one of the most important means to achieve this. To improve food security Finland supports developing countries and promotes agricultural research and supports farmers’ organizations. This is done mainly in Sub-Sahara, Africa and Asia. Programs on food security and value chains are more specifically on going in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Kenya.[19]
^ E.A. Dowler, D. O'Connor (2012). Rights-based approaches to addressing food poverty and food insecurity in Ireland and UK. Social Science & Medicine. Vol. 74 P. 44-51.
^ Islam, Nurul (Ed.), 1995. Population and Food in the Early TwentyFirst Century: Meeting Future Food Demand of an Increasing Population. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC.
^ H. Charles, J.Godfray, et al. (2010). Food security: The Challenge of Feeding 9 Billion People. Science 327, 812
^ J.von Braun. The world Food Situation: New Driving Forces and Required Actions (International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, 2007)
^ E.A. Dowler, D. O'Connor (2012). Rights-based approaches to addressing food poverty and food insecurity in Ireland and UK. Social Science & Medicine. Vol. 74 P. 44-51.
^ Smitha, L., Obeid, A., Jensenb, H. (2000). The geography and causes of food insecurity in developing countries. Agricultural Economics, Vol.22. pp. 199-215.
^ Smitha, L., Obeid, A., Jensenb, H. (2000). The geography and causes of food insecurity in developing countries. Agricultural Economics, Vol.22. pp. 199-215.
^ E.A. Dowler, D. O'Connor (2012). Rights-based approaches to addressing food poverty and food insecurity in Ireland and UK. Social Science & Medicine. Vol. 74 P. 44-51.
^ J.N. Pretty el al. (2003). Reducing food poverty by increasing agricultural sustainability in developing countries. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. Vol 95 Pages 217-234
^ J.N. Pretty el al. (2003). Reducing food poverty by increasing agricultural sustainability in developing countries. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. Vol 95 Pages 217-234
^ Tarasuk, V.(2001). A Critical Examination of Community-Based Responses to Household Food Insecurity in Canada. Health Education & Behavior, Vol.28, No.4, pp. 487-499
^ Tarasuk, V.(2001). A Critical Examination of Community-Based Responses to Household Food Insecurity in Canada. Health Education & Behavior, Vol.28, No.4, pp. 487-499
Food poverty / Food insecurity
Definition
Food poverty or the synonym food insecurity is a concept related to food security. Food insecurity exists when people don't have adequate physical, social or economic access to food security.[1] In other words food poverty refers to the inability to acquire or eat an adequate quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways (or the uncertainty of being able to do so).[2]
The video below gives a definition and explanation of what food insecurity is and also highlights one of the main challenges with food insecurity.
2012 © Thomson Reuters Foundation[3]
Challenges of Food poverty / Insecurity
Today enough food is produced to feed the world's population[4] but the challenge is to make sure that everyone can access it. Also, the continuing population and consumption growth means that global demand for food will increase for at least another 40 years,[5] meaning that the challenges of food insecurity will only rise if not a solution is found. In other words the demand for food is rising by the growing population and this demand needs to be adressed in a way that is environmentally and socially sustainable and ensure that the population is no longer hungry.[6]
Food insecurity is mainly a problem in developing countries causing malnutrition and poverty. At the same time food insecurity also exists in developed countries, but it's more about having the means to buy enough healthy foods and getting enough calories. In addition to this the challenge of food insecurity can be seen as symptoms of a system which fails to ensure that individuals and households have adequate income (to buy food), and to ensure what is available to consume at an affordable cost is appropriate for health.[7] So on the one hand food insecurity is caused by a too low income and on the other hand the availability/accessibility of food.
Causes of food insecurity is for example political instability, war and civil strife, macroeconomic imbalances and trade dislocations to environmental degradation, poverty, population growth, gender inequality, inadequate education and poor health.[8] The list of causes is long but all can be related to two basic causes: insufficient national food availability and insufficient access to food by households and individuals.[9] A concrete example of food insecurity is for example north-east Nigeria where in August of 2016 it was reported that food insecurity is pressing issue because of lost planting seasons due to the conflicts in the region.[10]
There are several discussions about how to resolve the problem of food insecurity. Some see it as the states obligation to put in measures to diminish the problem[11] , while others see sustainable agriculture[12] as a solution. The bottom issue is how to have an adequate and appropriate food supply without further damaging the environment.[13]
Critique
There exists some critique on the ways in which food insecurity has been handled. Most initiatives to fight the problem of food insecurity is community based and food charity continues to be the primary response. At the same time the capacity of such initiatives to alter food insecurity among the poorest seem to be limited and without action to address the underlying issue of poverty.[14] Some feel that donations towards these food charities is not getting to the root of the problem, which is unemployment and employment that is underpaid.[15] This suggests that the current ways in which a part of the food insecurity issue is handled is not doing the job. Furthermore the demand for food assistance and food help have increased since the 1980s[16] which also suggests that the current measures to fight food insecurity is not effective enough.
Relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Food poverty/insecurity is directly linked to the UN SDG 2 Zero Hunger. The goal is to end hunger and ensure sufficient food all year round. Also agricultural productivity and sustainable agriculture is key to end hunger.
As stated before, food insecurity especially in developed countries has to do with low income. This means that UN SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth which goal is to ensure employment and inclusive sustainable growth can be related to food insecurity.
Relation to Corporate Praxis
An interesting innovation, which could help to battle food insecurity in areas that are suffering from drought is the Waterboxx. The product is developed by Groasis Technology and it's a plant growing system to be used in man made deserts. The Waterboxx enables the root of the plant to grow horizontally so that it can anchor itself to the ground and then reach down to the water table. After a year the Waterboxx can be removed and a self-sustaining plant is left in place. This innovation means that growers are able to make a profit by growing fruit and vegetable plants in deforested and deserted areas. The founder of the company estimates that there exists over 2 billion hectares of man-made desserts and if planting each hectare with fruit and vegetable trees it could generate 5 tons of food. This in turn could help diminish the food insecurity problem especially in places affected by deforestation and drought.[17]
Examples from Finland
Finland is a country where food insecurity currently isn’t a pressing issue. We have a social welfare system and developed agriculture, which to a large extent prevents food insecurity to be a problem. At the same time this haven’t always been the case and for example during the civil after 1917 and during the winter war and continuation war in the 1940s there was a lot of people suffering from food insecurity. A good example here of a tool to battle food insecurity was that Finland introduced free school meals to every child, which probably greatly diminished the problem.
Today the contribution Finland makes to the issue of food insecurity is mainly helping out developing countries. For example the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland has a development policy program. One of the goals of this development policy is the eradication of poverty and inequality and the promotion of sustainable development.[18] According to the programme food security, access to water and energy and sustainable use of natural resources is one of the most important means to achieve this. To improve food security Finland supports developing countries and promotes agricultural research and supports farmers’ organizations. This is done mainly in Sub-Sahara, Africa and Asia. Programs on food security and value chains are more specifically on going in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Kenya.[19]
External links
The UN zero hunger challenge
World Food Programme
Open source
Barret et al (2010). Measuring Food Insecurity
Pretty el al (2001). Reducing food poverty by increasing agricultural sustainability in developing countries
Dowler & O'Connor (2012). Rights based approach to addressing food poverty and food insecurity in Ireland and UK
Quiz
Quiz created by Sofia Slotte with GoConqr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0J2VELZ4RU
https://www.un.org/zerohunger/news/urgent-farming-support-needed-amid-rampant-food-insecurity-parts-north-east-nigeria-%E2%80%93-un-agency
Retrieved on 5.4.2017
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/companies-anti-hunger-efforts-poverty
http://aim2flourish.com/innovation/view/137/planting-the-world-one-waterboxx-at-a-time
http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?nodeid=49312&contentlan=2&culture=en-US
http://formin.finland.fi/public/download.aspx?ID=163024&GUID={F6585F3B-EDAD-4F50-875B-50611E1020C9}